By Steve Woodward
A U.S. Army veteran and communications specialist who resides in Sanford will oppose six-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, who is seeking re-election in 2024. Primary Election Day is March 5. Early voting begins February 15.
Hudson, who resides in Southern Pines, represents Moore County and U.S. congressional District 9. He is considered the fourth-ranking member of the House. Hudson largely remained out of sight during the months-long effort by House Republican conservatives to remove Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which after 10 months resulted in the emergence of Mike Johnson as speaker.
Hudson’s primary opponent is Troy Tarazon, 45, who is a retired Signal Regiment Chief Warrant Officer who, across 20 years of service, was deployed abroad twice and was stationed overseas for half of the years he wore the uniform. Tarazon (photo nearby) tells Liberty Digest he is motivated to run by an uncomplicated mission to be a “veteran’s voice” in Washington.
“I’m exactly the opposite of Richard Hudson,” said Tarazon, who has been married for two decades and is the father of three children. “I’m not a career politician; I’m not establishment.
“We have a lot of establishment partisanship out there. There are a lot of self-serving interests going on in Washington. I would be NOT a part of that. I would like to be voice for the veterans’ community, and express their specific needs and concerns. I do not feel Richard Hudson has that firsthand empathy I am able to have, that connection, that relationship (with veterans).”
Tarazon has paid close attention to debates about U.S funding of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. While he has unwavering compassion for Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefields, “I really echo” lawmakers who argue that the U.S. should not continue pouring billions of dollars into an endless war.
“Where is that accountability happening?” Tarazon said. “I would want to see exactly where the money is being allocated, not just allowing (Ukraine) to have an open checkbook. We can’t do that. What’s our return on investment?”
Tarazon continues to work as a communications specialist as a contract employee on Fort Bragg with the Army Special Operations Command. His military career does not find him with enormous personal wealth to infuse into a campaign against an entrenched incumbent with access to the D.C. fundraising machine.
“That is going to be a significant hurdle,” he said “However, that is part of what I think will differentiate me from the status quo. I’m not a career politician; I’m not a millionaire. But I love this state, and this country. I don’t owe anybody anything. My plan is to take two months off until the primary and circulate myself through the counties.”
District 9 consists of Chatham, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Randolph and Scotland Counties and parts of Cumberland, Harnett and Richmond counties.
You cannot please 100% of the people 100% of the time. You may disagree on some votes he made, but Richard Hudson is a solid conservative with the best interests of his District at heart.
I am not so sure that Richard Hudson is a staunch Conservative. He voted for the “Bipartisan” Debt Increase Bill. Let’s see if he votes to keep the unconstitutional FISA authorization. As Senator Rand Paul states: “So far as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows our government to spy on U.S. citizens without a warrant, it is unconstitutional.” Ted Budd, (surprising), and Traitor Thom Tillis (not surprising) voted to keep it in the NDAA. A REAL Conservative would never allow this.
Richard Hudson voted for the NDAA with its FISA extension thereby allowing the Federal Government to spy on American citizens. He is NOT a Conservative. Meanwhile Dan Bishop voted against it proving once again that he is a true Patriot. He will be missed in the House but will be a greater asset to North Carolina as our next Attorney General. Thank you Dan Bishop. Shame on you Richard Hudson.